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Guide 2. What is the Internet?

How do computers talk to each other? With server software! (screen 4 of 6)

The connections between computers which constitute the Internet community involve telephone lines, cables, satellite dishes, and a range of other technologies.

Connections between computers on the Internet are temporary. They last long enough only for information to be transferred between computers.

As is the case with even the humble telephone, these messages must be converted into a useful form once they reach their destination. Computer software packages allow computers to convert messages from the Internet into something intelligible, like text, or a picture on screen, or even speech, music, or movies. 

Of course, this means the software at both ends must be talking the same language. Your computer's Web browser program talks to a Web server on the sending computer in a form or 'protocol' that can be transmitted along communication lines. The protocol used for this is called the HyperText Transfer Protocol, or HTTP.

HTTP

You might recognise the HTTP from the beginning of URL addresses - such as http://culture.gov.au/.

If your organisation plans to buy and set up its own server then you will need to be familiar with the protocol used and the server software available.

The original version of HTTP (very rarely used now) was known as HTTP 0.9. The first 'standard' version was HTTP 1.0. The later version is HTTP 1.1.

HTTP 1.1

HTTP 1.1 has additional features - it allows connections to remain open so that a screen with four graphics is sent to the client in the one connection, rather than in five separate connections as it would have been under HTTP 1.0. This can reduce the time it takes for client computers to get information from servers.

HTTP-ng

The next version of the HTTP protocol, HTTP-ng, is expected to also provide ways of handling security, authentication, copyright control and payment, among other features.

Commonly used server software

There are many different server software packages available and what is used may depend on your operating system - is it Unix, Macintosh or PC? Some common ones are Apache(1) for a Unix system, Internet Information Server (IIS)(2) for Windows NT and WebSTAR(3) for Macintosh. Netscape's Enterprise Server is also another major player in both the Unix and Windows NT markets.

What does this mean you can do on the Internet?

The Internet allows you to be actively involved in the Internet community by exchanging different kinds of messages with others. These messages need to be in particular formats which are created by the software of your computer or server computers. The standard format set is constantly added to and modified.

If you're on the Internet it means you can:

• Access Web pages.
• Send and receive email.
• Access World Wide Web newsgroups.
• Join and participate in distribution and discussion lists.
• Participate in Internet Relay Chat (IRC or Web chat).
• Access information stored on other servers using FTP protocols.
• Use your website to let people know when you are open, what facilities you have, and any special things that you do.
• Provide them with enticing information about your exhibits.
• Show them some of your exhibits.
• Find out from survey forms what they like or don't like.
• Sell tickets.
• Sell related merchandise.
• Advertise staff vacancies.
• Provide educational information about an exhibit.
• Create an electronic magazine.
• Carry out research and use it to enhance your organisation.
• Maintain membership lists.
• Expand to reach new audiences.
• Create new services.

Your organisation will benefit from utilising the Internet.

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References

1. Apache http://www.apache.org/
2. Internet Information Server http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/
3. WebSTAR http://www.4d.com/products/webstar.html

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